William C Kalenkoski
Military ROLL OF HONOURWilliam Kalenkoski was born 1921, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. He was the son of Polish-born Charles Kalenkoski (1888-1935) and Mary E. Kalenkoski (1887-1962) and was one of eight of the children born of that union. William completed high school before his enlistment into the Army on 26 DEC 1942. There he trained as a gunner. Went by the nickname "Whimpy." Was assigned as tail-gunner on his fatal mission.
He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group (H), 549th Bomb Squadron. The mission had departed AAF Station 155 (Great Ashfield, Suffolk, Great Britain) on its way to Berck-sur-Mer, France (an installation that was part of the Nazi Atlantic Wall).
His previous missions were over Tettau, (Bavarian held) Germany (21 Feb), Diepholz Air Base, Germany (22 Feb), Rostock, Germany (22 Feb) and Pas-de-Calais (aka Berck-sur-Mer, on his last mission, 28 Feb 1944).
Shot down by flak and crashed E of St Martin, FR on a mission to Pas-de-Calais, FR on 28 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31751. Killed in Action (KIA).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lady Luck
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 28 February 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Died |
28 February 1944 | ||
|
Born |
Shenandoah, Pennsylvania | ||
|
Buried |
Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, USA | St. George's Lithuanian Roman Catholic Cemetery |
Revisions
PURPLE HEART AWARDED TO S/SGT. KALENKOSKI - Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) 27 Feb 1945, Tue. Page 1
1. Dejnožka,Malcolm Martin, DEJNOŽKA – VLK Descendants & Allied Families (2019), ISBN 13: 9781733212502. LCCN: 2019907974. Page. 300
2. St. George's Lithuanian R.C. Cemetery Shenandoah, PA; www.lithuaniangenealogy.org/databases/ (Ancestry.com)
Missing In Action Report, 8 AF, 385 BG, 439 BS. Dated 15 Mar 1946 https://www.fold3.com/image/28750118?terms=kalenkoski,william,c
3. STATEMENT OF CAPTURE OR RECOVERY OF MEMBERS OF ENEMY AIR FORCES – Declassified. Posted – American Air Museum in Britain. www.americanairmuseum.com/media/26838
4. WILLIAM KALENKOSKI MISSING OVER FRANCE – Washington Street Soldier Was on Flying Fortress - Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) 18 Mar 1944, Sat. Page 1
5. ‘WIMPY’ KALENKOSKI NOW LISTED AS BEING KILLED – Telegram Today Places 44th Local Gold Star. Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) 26 Aug 1944, Sat. Page 1
6. PURPLE HEART AWARDED TO S/SGT. KALENKOSKI - Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) 27 Feb 1945, Tue. Page 1
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2883, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces